A common misperception of Native American horseback warriors, like the Lakota Sioux under Crazy Horse, is that their skills were an expression of an ancient, continuous tradition of horsemanship. Instead, they reflected a talent for which the Plains Indian receives too little credit. This is a talent for creativity, foresight, and innovation. The Sioux who swept down on Custer had adopted older Spanish traditions and honed them till they were legendary horsemen in their own right.
The Native American warrior on his horse, solitary and communing with the land, is a truly iconic figure. It's a little disconcerting to be reminded that those classic scenes reflect a period that, in actual historical terms, did not last two hundred years. Horses are not, in fact, native to the New World, and the Natives' ability to master them represents a triumph of boldly adapting to a new opportunity.
The first horses were brought to the New World by the Spanish, which means that Native American history had gone on for thousands of years without any of those familiar scenes. The Spanish knew their domination over the Indians had a lot to do with their horsemanship, so they tried to keep access to the animal and its secrets away from them. Throughout the 16th Century, too few horses were brought across the Atlantic to initiate any real population.
The Spanish eventually had to hire local Navajo and Pueblo men to take care of their growing stables. Word certainly got out about the potential of this new animal, because the 17th Century would see these local peoples frequently raiding Spanish ranches for their horses. However, it was not until near the end of that century that life on horseback became known to Native peoples beyond Southwest.
In the year 1680 Pueblo warriors handed the Spanish a major defeat, winning for themselves thousands of horses. At last the number of horses had grown large enough for continent-wide trade to become common among Native Americans. Near the turn of the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Comanches took the lead in beginning to cultivate the potential of the horse.
Comanches became the ultimate horse whisperers and the ultimate riders. In fact, they cultivated such a level of mastery in so short a time that the term "genius" is perfectly appropriate. As mounted warriors they defeated their competitors as the Khans had once ridden up before and defeated theirs, teaching the defeated just how potent a weapon the horse truly was.
Comanche horsemanship became the model later adopted by other Indian nations. It would also be adopted by the legendary Texas Rangers. They were notable for their high speed acrobatic feats, such as firing arrows while hanging onto to the side of a horse at full gallop.
All across the continent, Native Americans spent the 18th Century cultivating their expertise with horsemanship. Several northern peoples, most famously the Lakota Sioux, would spend the balance of 18th and beginning of the 19th Centuries developing the horseback armies that would crush the US 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn. Innovation and the Indian go together like apple pie and ice cream.
The Native American warrior on his horse, solitary and communing with the land, is a truly iconic figure. It's a little disconcerting to be reminded that those classic scenes reflect a period that, in actual historical terms, did not last two hundred years. Horses are not, in fact, native to the New World, and the Natives' ability to master them represents a triumph of boldly adapting to a new opportunity.
The first horses were brought to the New World by the Spanish, which means that Native American history had gone on for thousands of years without any of those familiar scenes. The Spanish knew their domination over the Indians had a lot to do with their horsemanship, so they tried to keep access to the animal and its secrets away from them. Throughout the 16th Century, too few horses were brought across the Atlantic to initiate any real population.
The Spanish eventually had to hire local Navajo and Pueblo men to take care of their growing stables. Word certainly got out about the potential of this new animal, because the 17th Century would see these local peoples frequently raiding Spanish ranches for their horses. However, it was not until near the end of that century that life on horseback became known to Native peoples beyond Southwest.
In the year 1680 Pueblo warriors handed the Spanish a major defeat, winning for themselves thousands of horses. At last the number of horses had grown large enough for continent-wide trade to become common among Native Americans. Near the turn of the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Comanches took the lead in beginning to cultivate the potential of the horse.
Comanches became the ultimate horse whisperers and the ultimate riders. In fact, they cultivated such a level of mastery in so short a time that the term "genius" is perfectly appropriate. As mounted warriors they defeated their competitors as the Khans had once ridden up before and defeated theirs, teaching the defeated just how potent a weapon the horse truly was.
Comanche horsemanship became the model later adopted by other Indian nations. It would also be adopted by the legendary Texas Rangers. They were notable for their high speed acrobatic feats, such as firing arrows while hanging onto to the side of a horse at full gallop.
All across the continent, Native Americans spent the 18th Century cultivating their expertise with horsemanship. Several northern peoples, most famously the Lakota Sioux, would spend the balance of 18th and beginning of the 19th Centuries developing the horseback armies that would crush the US 7th Cavalry at Little Bighorn. Innovation and the Indian go together like apple pie and ice cream.
About the Author:
You can visit www.arapaholegend.com for more helpful information about Innovation And The Plains Indian.
No comments:
Post a Comment